MAY | NOV | Dec
| 21 |
2006 | 2010 | 2011
20 captures 21 Feb 01 - 21 Nov 10 |
| Close Help

# Carolus Furax

#### by Mark D F Shirley

The copyright of this article remains with the original author. Articles may be copied or distributed freely for personal non-profit use, provided that the author is properly credited.

#### Carolus Furax, scholae Tytali

### Background

Carolus was the son of a pair of wanderers from Aegypt, who were travelling with their band in Italy. While stopping in Pisa for a while, the travellers were rounded up by the local authorities and sold into slavery. Carolus became separated from his parents, and managed to stay free. He spent the next ten years of his life living as a beggar on the streets of Pisa. He was eventually taken in by a local thief, who taught him the tricks of his trade. This was not a happy apprenticeship - the man used to beat him if he came home empty handed. Finally, with a boldness born of desperation, he tried to pick the pocket of a nobleman in broad daylight in an uncrowded street. The nobleman turned out to be a powerful sidhe nible, who cursed Carolus with the inability to go abroad in daylight again without suffering pain from the light of the sun.

At the age of 15, Carolus was spotted in the streets of Pisa by a German magus, Willem of Tytalus. This magus had the ability to spot the Gift, and recognised Carolus as potential apprentice material despite the lack of outward signs. Carolus's second apprenticeship was no less harsh than his first, but he proved an adept student, particularly in the art of Imaginem. In the few moments of spare time he could snatch, Carolus used his blossoming magical powers to further his larcenous career. He resolved to become the best thief that has lived, and still strives for that goal. It was during one of these forays that Carolus was caught for the second time, and this time lost a hand to the local magistrate. Willem nearly refused to take him back - what good was a maimed apprentice? - but at last he did relent. This started a new phase in Carolus's relationship with his master - the two started to get along better, and Willem taught him the magical skills and spells he desired to learn, so that he wouldn't get caught again. Willem refused to restore his hand though, leaving the stump as a reminder to Carolus of the penalties of failure.

Carolus is still a thief. He is known among the shadier circles of the Order as someone who can procure items for magi who are willing to pay. Carolus does it for the thrill of the hunt - from the planning to the execution, he sees each theft as a challenge to be overcome. He will not steal from Magi (that would be against the Code), and he is careful not to over-reach himself - he knows that he is not the best thief yet, but is certain that one day he will be.

Carolus has developed a reputation in the mundane world as well. He has become known as a dashingly handsome figure that steals from the rich. This overly romanticised image appeals to his ego - though he is by no means handsome, and only steals from the rich because the poor have nothing worth stealing. The local authorities would dearly love to get their hands on him, for he is known to have committed several major crimes, but since his Gauntlet, he has not been caught.

#### Appearance

A thin man with a long nose. He dresses entirely in black, usually restricting himself to tunic and hose, although he has a liking for voluminous cloaks. His hair is black, and so are his eyes.

Name: Carolus Furax

Parens: Williem Germarus

House: Tytalus

Age: 35 (apparent 35)

Size: 0

### Characteristics:

Int | +2 | clever | Str | 0 |  | Prs | -2 | unassuming | Dex | +3 | lithe
Per | -1 | inattentive | Sta | +1 | hardy | Com | -1 | mumbler | Qik | +2 | nimble

### Virtues

Contortions +1
Affinity (Imaginem) +3
Gentle Gift +1
Knack (Stealth) +1
Cyclic Magic (Night +3) +2
Deft Art (Imaginem) +1
Extra Spells +1

### Flaws

Missing Hand -2
Compulsion (to discover secrets) -1
Weakness (valuables) -1
Judged Unfavourably -1
Cursed (sunlight is painfully bright) -1
Incompatible Arts (Creo Ignem) -2
Infamous (thief) -2

### Personality Traits

Secretive +2
Inquisitive +2
Arrogant +2

### Reputations

Thief (local area) 4

#### Confidence

3

### Abilities

Speak Latin (Hermetic) 5
Speak Italian (vulgar) 4
Scribe Latin (in haste) 3
Magic Theory (inventing spells)5
Order of Hermes Lore (Tytali) 2
Parma Magica (Intellego) 3
Certamen (Imaginem) 1
Finesse (Imaginem) 3
Penetration (Mentem) 1
Concentration (Imaginem) 1
Imaginem Affinity (Creo) 3
Contortions (squeeze) 3
Athletics (sprint) 3
Stealth (towns) 3
Climb (walls) 2
Dagger Attack (attacking from rear) 1
Sling Attack (still target) 1
Area Lore (local gentry)1
Guile (authorities)1
Acting (innocent passer-by)1
Scan (items of value) 1
Pick Locks (in darkness) 1

### Hermetic Arts

Creo | 9 | Animal | 1 | Ignem | 4
Intellego | 2 | Aquam | 1 | Imaginem | 9
Muto | 5 | Auram | 0 | Mentem | 4
Perdo | 5 | Corpus | 3 | Terram | 3
Rego | 3 | Herbam | 0 | Vim | 3

#### Wizard's Sigil

Targets of his spells become darkened, or his face is thrown into shadow

### Grimoire

Disguise of the Transformed Image (MuIm15) +18
Silence of the Smothered Sound (PeIm 25) +18
Invisibility of the Standing Wizard (PeIm 15) +18
Invisible Hand of the Thief (ReTe 15) +7
Wizard's Golden Key (Cr/InTe 10) +6
Phantasm of the Human Form (CrIm 25) +23
Image from the Wizard Torn (ReIm 30) +16
The Call to Slumber (ReMe 15) +8
Loss of But a Moment's Memory (PeMe 10) +9
Eyes of the Cat (MuCo 5) +8

### Own Spells

Image of the Inanimate Thing (CrIm 10) +23; R: Near, D: Sun, T: Small. This spell creates an illusion of any small object. Carolus uses it to make a replacement of an object he has stolen.

Douse the Night-time Lanterns (PeIg 20) +9; R: Reach, D: Mom, T: Structure. This spell extinguishes all candles and lanterns within a structure.

Trick of the Elk (MuIm 4) +18; R: Reach, D: Conc, T: Ind. This spell changes the caster's image to match the background, rendering him virtually invisible as long as he remains still.